2008 Challenge Cup


The 2008 Challenge Cup was the 107th staging of the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of Rugby league, featuring teams from across Europe, including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia. It began in February 2008.
Teams from the National League were given byes to round three, and teams from the Super League entered in round four. Teams from outside the UK were introduced at various stages.
St. Helens successfully defended their title after beating Hull F.C. 28 - 16 in the final.

Round 1

Tie noHome teamScoreAway team
1Askham12 - 20West Bowling
2*Bradford Dudley Hill72 - 0Dewsbury Celtic
3Bramley Buffaloes24 - 16Castleford Panthers
4British Army34 - 12Thatto Heath
5Castleford Lock Lane18 - 32Royal Navy
6*Drighlington10 - 20Bank Quay Bulls
7East Hull54 - 6Royal Air Force
8*Eastmoor10 - 23Queens
9Eccles & Salford10 - 28Leigh East
10Ellenbrough Rangers17 - 1Saddleworth Rangers
11Hull Wyke18 - 14York Acorn
12Ince Rose Bridge28 - 6 ***Hunslet Old Boys
13Leigh Miners Rangers24 - 18Halton Simms Cross
14Mayfield48 - 4Crosfields
15Millom38 - 0Milford Marlins
16Normanton Knights38 - 8Edinburgh Eagles
17Oulton Raiders48 - 4Oldham St Annes
18Seaton Rangers6 - 38Featherstone Lions
19Siddal62 - 6Egremont Rangers
20Skirlaugh46 - 14Waterhead
21St Albans16 - 42Hull Dockers
22St Marys22 - 30Warrington Wizards
23Stanningley16 - 10Shaw Cross Sharks
24Thornhill20 - 26Leeds Met
25Wath Brow Hornets58 - 4Heworth
26*West Hull48 - 14Widnes St Maries
27Wigan St Patricks44 - 14Ovenden

*** - Match abandoned after Hunslet Old Boys had 4 players sent off. Hunslet Old Boys were subsequently thrown out of the competition.

Round 2

Russian team Vereya joined in this round. Vereya were runners-up in the Russian Championship to Lokomotiv Moscow. Lokomotiv Moscow joined in the third round.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway team
1Bank Quay Bulls29 - 0Millom
2Bramley Buffaloes16 - 26Wigan St. Patricks
3Hull Dockers14 - 19Skirlaugh
4Ince Rose Bridge25 - 26British Army
5Leeds Met Uni20 - 8Leigh East
6Leigh Miners Rangers64 - 12Vereya
7Normanton18 - 38East Hull
8Oulton Raiders18 - 14West Hull
9Royal Navy6 - 36Rochdale Mayfield
10Siddal6 - 17Queens
11Warrington Wizards26 - 10Stanningley
12Wath Brow Hornets8 - 6Ellenborough Rangers
13West Bowling16 - 34Featherstone Lions
14York Acorn14 - 6Bradford Dudley Hill

Round 3

The National Leagues teams, together with Lokomotiv Moscow, Pia, Lezignan and Toulouse joined in this round. Super League teams joined in Round 4.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway team
1Bank Quay Bulls6 - 36Hunslet
2Batley42 - 10East Hull
3Blackpool16 - 23Featherstone Rovers
4British Army10 - 56Oldham
5Celtic Crusaders58 - 10Lokomotiv Moscow
6Gateshead Thunder24 - 26Pia
7Keighley14 - 17Toulouse
8Leeds Met Uni16 - 44Doncaster
9Leigh66 - 0Featherstone Lions
10Leigh Miners Rangers14 - 40Whitehaven
11London Skolars20 - 8Queens
12Rochdale Mayfield10 - 30Barrow
13Oulton Raiders24 - 54Dewsbury
14Rochdale Hornets50 - 8York Acorn
15Salford66 - 10Warrington Wizards
16Sheffield Eagles22 - 37Lezignan
17Wath Brow Hornets14 - 40Swinton
18Widnes60 - 18Skirlaugh
19Wigan St. Patricks14 - 50Workington Town
20York12 - 34Halifax

Round 4

Super League teams joined in Round 4. From Round 4 onwards, the competition was a straightforward knock-out, with no more teams joining.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway team
1Batley12 - 26Dewsbury
2Leigh16 - 28Warrington
3Workington Town12 - 68Hull Kingston Rovers
4Harlequins44 - 14Castleford
5Doncaster12 - 38Widnes
6Featherstone Rovers12 - 22Catalans Dragons
7Barrow48 - 16Hunslet
8Salford8 - 38Wakefield Trinity
9Leeds38 - 16Celtic Crusaders
10Swinton8 - 20Oldham
11Bradford98 - 6Toulouse Olympique
12Halifax24 - 42Huddersfield
13Whitehaven46 - 6Lézignan Sangliers
14St. Helens56 - 0London Skolars
15Rochdale Hornets5 - 42Hull F.C.
16Wigan74 - 4Pia Donkeys

All fixtures taken from

Round 5

Tie noHome teamScoreAway team
1Hull Kingston Rovers42 - 22Huddersfield
2Barrow6 - 58Wakefield Trinity
3Dewsbury12 - 58Oldham
4Bradford46 - 16Catalans Dragons
5Wigan106 - 8Whitehaven
6Widnes18 - 32*Hull F.C.
7Harlequins26 - 36Leeds
8St. Helens40 - 34Warrington

Quarter finals

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Semi finals

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Final

UK Broadcasting rights

Selected matches were televised solely by the BBC.
RoundLive matchDateBBC channel
Round 4Harlequins 44 - 14 Castleford
Salford 8 - 38 Wakefield Trinity
BBC Two1
Round 5Hull Kingston Rovers 42 - 22 Huddesfield
St. Helens 40 - 34 Warrington
BBC Two1
BBC One
Quarter finalsLeeds 23 - 16 Wigan
Bradford 16 - 22 Hull
May 31, 2008
June 1, 2008
BBC One
BBC Two2
Semi finalsLeeds 16 - 26 St. Helens
Wakefield Trinity 24 - 32 Hull
July 26, 2008
July 27, 2008
BBC One
BBC Two3
FinalSt. Helens 28 - 16 HullAugust 30, 2008BBC One

1 Except East and Yorkshire.
2 Except East, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire.
3 Except Yorkshire.